An Auckland bar owner convicted for refusing to meet smoking law requirements should send a message to others to check their premises, the Public Health Service says.
The owner was fined $2700 in the North Shore District Court this week for four charges relating to making sure their bar met the new Ministry of Health guidelines.
But the Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) didn't name the offending establishment.
It has led to the ARPHS to remind those in the hospitality industry to check whether their bars and restaurants meet the new rules even if they've complied in the past.
But the bar isn't the first to go to court over the issue, with Wellington bar Public hit with a $1710 fine last year.
The smoking area of the Courtenay Place bar wasn't considered open enough to meet the guidelines.
It was the third Wellington establishment to be prosecuted for the size of the smoking area.
The Smoke-free Environments Act requires all internal areas of workplaces, licenced premises and certain public enclosed areas to be smokefree.
Hospitality businessman Scott Brown, who owns a number of restaurants including the Takapuna Beach Café and the St Heliers Bar and Bistro, says diners don't want a serving of second-hand smoke.
He says none of his establishments have seen a downturn in business, with patronage actually increasing.
Newshub.
